The secret lives of polynomial identities

When

Start: 09/21/2011 - 4:15pm End : 09/21/2011 - 5:15pm

Category

Colloquium

Speaker

Bruce Reznick (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign)

Abstract

Polynomial identities can reflect deeper mathematical phenomena. In this talk, I will discuss some of the stories behind four identities (and their relatives). The stories involve algebra, analysis, number theory, combinatorics, geometry and numerical analysis. The identities, which don't fit well in plain text, involve polynomials in two, three and four variables being taken to powers ranging from the third to the fourteenth. The earliest is due to Viete, and dates to the 1590's.

About the speaker

Bruce Reznick received his B.S. at Caltech (1973) and Ph.D. at Stanford (1976), both in mathematics. He joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1979, where he is a now a Professor of Mathematics. He was a member of Caltech's 1st place Putnam team in 1971 and 1972 and was on the Putnam problems committee in the early 1980s. He has had a Sloan Fellowship and is currently an Associate at the UIUC Center for Advanced Study. In 2009, he received Undergraduate Teaching Awards both from his College and from the Campus. He has written more than 60 research publications as well as "Chalking It Up: Advice to a New TA". He has advised six completed and four current Ph.D. students. His research interests focus on combinatorial methods in algebra, analysis, number theory and geometry, often involving polynomials, polytopes and integer sequences.

Where

Millikan Auditorium, Pomona College: entrance is on the north side of the Millikan patio (6th St. and College St.)

Misc. Information

Here is the PDF flyer for this talk. The dinner will be hosted by Prof. Lenny Fukshansky. Professor Reznick will also give anANTC seminar talk on Tuesday, 9/20/11.